-
A pastoral letter of remembrance and mourning
Beloved sisters and brothers 7 October 2025 is the tragic anniversary of an outbreak of violence that has led to hundreds of thousands of lives lost in the lands called Israel and Palestine and also in the larger region. We acknowledge that the image of God is in every man, woman and child: every death…
-
A challenge and a prayer
“I always leave Online Prayer Hour feeling encouraged,” says Ginny Hostetler, Kitchener, Ontario, Canada. Every two months, Mennonite World Conference hosts this online gathering. Participants spend most of the hour sharing and praying together in small groups according to language. This September, breakout rooms were facilitated in English, French, Spanish, Hindi, and, for the first…
-
A pastoral letter regarding war in the Middle East
Beloved sisters and brothers: The escalation of war in the Middle East today is a source of fear and grief for our Anabaptist family around the world. For some, this is a new reality, for others it adds to the burden of violence carried for years or decades from local conflict. We see all of…
-
MKC calls for prayer from our global Anabaptist family
Beloved sisters and brothers Mennonite World Conference calls for prayer for our member church Meserete Kristos Church (MKC) facing religious persecution in Ethiopia from extremist factions. The latest incident to affect ministers of the gospel in MKC occurred 15 May 2025. An extremist group in the region attacked an evangelist working in the West Hararghe.…
-
Powering the spinning wheel
Join in prayer for the global family “Prayer has been our spinning wheel. Thanks to the global church for the resilience in your prayers. It is encouraging to know that someone somewhere in the globe is reporting your issues to God,” says Okoth Simon Onyango, Mennonite Church Uganda, bishop. The members of Mennonite World Conference…
-
A pastoral letter from Anabaptists in Ecuador
A state of “internal armed conflict” has been declared in Ecuador since January 2024. The government continues to struggle against violence from organized crime groups. The three Mennonite national churches in Ecuador – Iglesia Evangélica Menonita Ecuatoriana (IEME – MWC member church), Iglesia Cristiana Anabautista Menonita de Ecuador (ICAME), Iglesia Cristiana Menonita (ICME) – call…
-
Urgent prayer: earthquake in Myanmar
A 7.7 magnitude earthquake struck central Myanmar, followed by a 6.4 magnitude aftershock. The earthquake affected the region as far as Thailand, China and India.
-
A pastoral letter regarding legal action for the protection of religious liberties
Beloved sisters and brothers We call you to prayer for our siblings in the USA who are taking legal action that seeks to restore the rights of people of faith to gather, worship and serve without government interference. Mennonite Church USA joins more than 20 Christian and Jewish communities in this action. The current presidential…
-
A pastoral letter for Anabaptists in DR Congo
We received a request for prayer from our leaders in DR Congo. Pastor Jean-Pierre Muya, president of MWC member church Communauté Mennonite de Congo (CMCo), writes: “This is a difficult time in our country. Please continue to pray for the restoration of peace and for the injured.”
-
A pastoral letter for those affected by wildfires in Los Angeles
Beloved sisters and brothers: The raging fires in Los Angeles in southern California, USA, have impacted many communities. At publication time, the fires have destroyed more than 160 km2, claimed the lives of at least 24 with dozens missing or unaccounted for, and destroyed more than 10,000 structures, including homes and churches. MWC member churches…
-
Yesterday’s martyrs inspire those who suffer today
“Their commitment to passing down the message of peace and the gospel inspires me to live a sacrificial life for peace.” Stories of the early Anabaptist martyrs have shaped and inspired Mennonites around the world for 500 years. They continue to do so for suffering pastors in Myanmar, like the one quoted above. From 25-29…
-
Grieving a year of increasing violence in the Middle East
A pastoral letter on October 7, 2024 Beloved brothers and sisters of the global Anabaptist/Mennonite communion: With heavy hearts, we mark the one-year anniversary of terrible events that signalled the beginning of a new cycle of violence in the Middle East. We are heartbroken at the number of lives taken a year ago and since.…
